Muscle Cars 1962 to 1972

[Lee Stewart]

1968 W45 Cutlass



1968 W46 Cutlass



1969 W45 Cutlass



1969 W46 Cutlass





W46 = A/C equipped Hurst/Olds while W45 = no A/C option installed

[Lee Stewart]

1970 W45 Cutlass



The 1970 W45 option (Rallye 350) consisted of the W25 twin-scoop hood, the W30 Force Air Induction System (just the air cleaner assembly), L74 310HP 350 engine*, the W35 Rear Wing and FE2 Sport Suspension - and of course the Monochromatic Sebring Yellow Paint Scheme/Stripes.

It also has the optional W26 Hurst Dual Gate automatic shifter (inc. special console and lighted map pocket.) - STD on 68 and 69 Hurst/Olds, first available in 70 for Cutlass models

The only W option missing is the W27 aluminum rear axle housing - ultra ultra rare on a Rallye 350

* The W31 option used the 325HP 350 engine



Enough "W" codes?

[67_C30]

Let me start off by saying WOW! - What a GREAT thread! My computer's hard drive and right click button has suffered greatly because of this thread. I have been wading through it a while ( over a couple of weeks) and finally made it to the end. I felt compelled to sign up to thank you fotr this. Great job!

Now my one criticism (everybody's a critic, right) - There are fierce arguments about at what point the muscle car era began. Some say '64 with the GTO. Others say 1955 with shoe box Chevy's. Others even say it began in 1949 with Olds Rocket. I'm inclined to say early 60's as this thread suggests, but IMO - if you say it started in 1962, you should also say 1961. Again IMHO, the 1961 Pontiac is the first real muscle car. The Sport Fury and Polara immediates in 1962 get the nod for the first downsized, big engine car - but that '61 bubble top Cat was the first downsized full size car, and remains one of the sexiest bodies to ever roll out of Detroit. With finned aluminum drums and 8 lug wheels, it definitely had a different flavor than anything other car that year. The '61 Pontiac was shortened by 4 inches and lightened by 200 pounds. The Super Duty's were a monsters, and by fall of 1961, 421 SD powered '61 Cats were dominating Super Stock racing. I find it hard not include this car, because it is the definition of a muscle car. What say you?

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by 67_C30

Let me start off by saying WOW! - What a GREAT thread! My computer's hard drive and right click button has suffered greatly because of this thread. I have been wading through it a while ( over a couple of weeks) and finally made it to the end. I felt compelled to sign up to thank you fotr this. Great job!

Now my one criticism (everybody's a critic, right) - There are fierce arguments about at what point the muscle car era began. Some say '64 with the GTO. Others say 1955 with shoe box Chevy's. Others even say it began in 1949 with Olds Rocket. I'm inclined to say early 60's as this thread suggests, but IMO - if you say it started in 1962, you should also say 1961. Again IMHO, the 1961 Pontiac is the first real muscle car. The Sport Fury and Polara immediates in 1962 get the nod for the first downsized, big engine car - but that '61 bubble top Cat was the first downsized full size car, and remains one of the sexiest bodies to ever roll out of Detroit. With finned aluminum drums and 8 lug wheels, it definitely had a different flavor than anything other car that year. The '61 Pontiac was shortened by 4 inches and lightened by 200 pounds. The Super Duty's were a monsters, and by fall of 1961, 421 SD powered '61 Cats were dominating Super Stock racing. I find it hard not include this car, because it is the definition of a muscle car. What say you?

Hi

Appreciate the kudos

Pontiac didn't make a 421 Super Duty car that you could drive out of the showroom in 1961. That didn't happen until 1962. What you could do was buy all the SD parts over the counter in 1961:

http://www.carguychronicles.com/2011...lina-time.html

The 1964 GTO is credited with being the first Muscle Car because of it's big engine in a mid sized car. Something that Joe Public could walk into any Pontiac dealership and drive out that day with.

Special purpose high performance cars before the GTO like the 421 SD Pontiacs or the 409 Chevys or the 413/426 Max Wedge Mopars all used large body cars.

Muscle Cars were all about marketing as much as they were about cubic inches or horsepower. Getting people into dealer showrooms. The fact of the matter is in the 10 year period this thread covers, less then 10% of all the cars that were built were Muscle Cars.

Keep in touch with this thread. I am always adding new cars and discovering and posting new information. Please feel free to contribute.

[Lee Stewart]

[Lee Stewart]

1969 SS396/375HP Camaro, 4 Speed





http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0512-125912

Notice the markings on the firewall (PBT) - They are Chevrolet inspection stamps of Fisher Body work. They stand for Paint, Body, and Trim.

Dana Mecum's 25th Original Spring Classic Auction
May 15-20, 2012
This Lot scheduled to be sold THU 8:30PM

[Lee Stewart]

[Lee Stewart]

1970 Hemi Charger R/T, 4 Speed

1970 Charger R/T Hemi, which is one of only 56 Hemi Chargers built that year, sporting a 1-of-1 color combination on top of being the only Hemi Charger ever built with the Performance hood with engine call-out.

http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inv...ger-R-T/132890

Asking Price = $299,900.00

1970 Hemi Charger R/T Production Numbers:

426 Hemi with 3.54 4 Speed sure grip 28 built (car above)
426 Hemi with 3.55 Automatic sure grip 19 built
426 Hemi with 4.10 4 Speed sure grip 28 built
426 Hemi with 4.10 Automatic sure grip 28 built

[Lee Stewart]

1969 Pontiac GTO Judge 400 CI, 4-Speed



DESCRIPTION

- 1 of 2 built with Matador Red and Red interior
- 1 of 249 4-speed cars built
- Air conditioning
- Professional frame-off restoration
- Covered headlights
- Power steering
- Power disc brakes
- Bucket seats
- Center console
- Tinted glass
- Tilt steering column
- Wood steering wheel
- Power antenna
- Correct Goodyear polyglas G70 whitewall tires
- Full PHS documentation
- 46,000 actual miles

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0512-126238

Dana Mecum's 25th Original Spring Classic Auction
May 15-20, 2012
This Lot scheduled to be sold FRI 5:30PM

[Lee Stewart]

1969 Ford Mustang Boss 302 Fastback 302/290 HP, 4-Speed



DESCRIPTION

- Matching numbers
- Purchased new by the Chrysler Corporation
- 13,000 believed to be actual miles
- The only Boss 302 to win the Authenticity award
- Possibly the most authentic restored Boss 302 in the world
- Original sheet metal
- NOS exhaust system
- One of the most award winning Boss 302's
- Original set of Goodyear tires
- Featured in magazines since 1981
- Restored by Bob Perkins MCA authenticity judge
- All original drivetrain

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0512-126617

Dana Mecum's 25th Original Spring Classic Auction
May 15-20, 2012
This Lot scheduled to be sold SAT5:00PM

[Lee Stewart]

1969 Chevrolet Nova SS 396/375 HP, Automatic



DESCRIPTION

- Sold new at Monaghan Chevrolet in Uniontown, PA
- This Nova has never left the Pittsburgh area
- Ordered in rare Dover White with deluxe Blue interior
- SS wheels with Goodyear red stripe tires
- All components are date coded and correct
- Complete owner history with a signed affidavit from the original owner attesting to its L78 heritage
- Scored 999 of 1000 points at Chevy VetteFest 2008
- Received Gold Spinner and Diamond Award of Excellence
- Outstanding in Class at World of Wheels in Pittsburgh
- Restored Class winner 68-72 at the Nova Nationals

http://www.mecum.com/auctions/lot_de...=SC0512-126291

Dana Mecum's 25th Original Spring Classic Auction
May 15-20, 2012
This Lot scheduled to be sold FRI7:00PM

[Lee Stewart]

Did some 1967 327 Corvettes come from the factory with the 427 Hood?

According to Noland Adams in The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide, Vol. 2, requests began pouring in for 327s to be optioned with the big-block hood. All of these requests were turned down, but a select few 327s did make it off the assembly line with the big-block hood. They just weren't ordered that way.

So how did the big-block hoods make it onto the 327ci-engined Corvettes in the first place? According to Adams, in either late February or early March, a worker accidentally dropped "a screwdriver-like tool" into the small-block hood mold, ruining the mold and halting production. At first, it seemed as if Corvette production would have to be stopped altogether until the costly mold could be replaced. When the people in charge realized they had enough of a big-block hood inventory to keep the Corvettes rolling off the line, however, they simply decided to put the big-block hoods, which were more popular anyway, onto the small-blocks. These hoods were also distinguishable by the fact that there was no emblem or stripe added to the bulge as there was on other big-block hoods.

Within three to five days, the problem was solved and the hood crossover ended. Although we were unable to find exact numbers on how many 327ci '67s were produced with the big-block hood, we can estimate there were no more than 540. Based on Adams' claim that the factory averaged six Corvettes per hour, frequently ran nine hours per shift, and had two-shift days, it's possible that 108 Corvettes could have been made in a day. This would make 540 for the five-day period.

http://www.corvettefever.com/feature...tte/index.html

Would have looked like this:



NOTE: The Knock-Off aluminum wheel option ended in 1966. To be correct, this car would have the Bolt-On AL wheel which though might not be as cool looking as the KO, it was a much better handling wheel due to the absence of all the increased unsprung weight that the KO wheel added due to the adapter and the spinner.



22,940 67 Corvettes were made of which 13,233 were 327 (300 & 350 HP) powered cars.

[KFD]

Holy cow, thanks for posting! I just joined up for this thread! I can't believe how much I got educated about musclecars, isn't this a forum about TVs!?

I have heard for YEARS about the Mod-Top Daytona, and have never seen it, I didn't know it was a dealer-installed item!

What I am REALLY fascinated about is the SUNROOF T/A. When was it found!? I know it only existed due to shipping records, but last I heard, nobody knows where it was. I am really curious to see pictures of it!


Later

KFD

[Lee Stewart]

Originally Posted by KFD

Holy cow, thanks for posting! I just joined up for this thread! I can't believe how much I got educated about musclecars, isn't this a forum about TVs!?

I have heard for YEARS about the Mod-Top Daytona, and have never seen it, I didn't know it was a dealer-installed item!

What I am REALLY fascinated about is the SUNROOF T/A. When was it found!? I know it only existed due to shipping records, but last I heard, nobody knows where it was. I am really curious to see pictures of it!


Later

KFD

I believe (???) the Sunroof TA Challenger was at the big Muscle Car show in Chicago last November. There have been very few photos posted about the TA reunion that was held at the show (MCACN). It's T6 Dark Tan with a Black Vinyl Roof

[Lee Stewart]

1971 Chevelle SS 454 LS5 Convertible



http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/inv...r-Sport/132940

Asking Price = $119,900.00

In 1971 the 454/365hp LS5 was a $279.10 option on the Chevelle SS. Chevy built 9,502 LS5 Chevelle SS equipped cars. There is no know documented breakdown of hardtops and convertibles.

Chevy did the opposite of what they did in 1970. In 70' the Corvette did not get the LS6 while the Chevelle SS did. In 71' Corvette got the LS6 while the Chevelle SS did not.